Superintendents and school leaders are already more than a month into a very different 2020-21 school year. They’ve adapted remarkably to new ways of preparing teachers, educating students, and supporting parents and caregivers.
Now, the Transform for Tomorrow series is asking them: What’s working well? And what’s not?
This virtual, five-part series is designed for school leaders to share and learn from one another on how schools might, together, prepare for what comes next, no matter what tomorrow brings.
Educators are welcome to join any number of sessions. All sessions are free and will explore a new topic every Thursday evening, October 7 – November 5. Find the complete schedule of webinars and presenters below or click here to download the flyer.
Transform for Tomorrow: What’s Working in Schools Now is a collaboration between Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3, Digital Promise, The Grable Foundation, and Remake Learning. For more information, contact: Dr. Bart Rocco, Grable Fellow: Rocco187@comcast.net or Dr. Bille Rondinelli, Grable Fellow: billejeanrondinelli@gmail.com.
THURSDAY, OCT. 8, 2020 • 7-7:30PM EST
Delivering instruction to students through interactive learning and engaging students using technology
School districts are using a myriad of platforms to teach their students virtually, and this first series session will examine strategies that help to make learning fun and engaging for students. The school leaders in this session will share what they have learned and provide specific strategies that are being used in their virtual classrooms.
Speakers: Dr. Michael Nagler, Mineloa School District, Mineloa, New York | Dr. Todd Keruskin, Elizabeth Forward School District, Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, OCT. 15, 2020 • 7-7:30PM EST
How to build relationships and communicate effectively with students, parents, and caregivers in this new learning environment
COVID-19 has changed the way school districts have used technology to communicate with their stakeholders. The second series session will discuss innovative practices school districts have used to keep the public informed as well ways in which virtual communication experiences have changed practices for teachers, parents, and caregivers.
Speakers: Dr. Matthew Miller, Lakota School District, Liberty Township, Ohio | Dr. Thomas Ralston, Avonworth School District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020 • 7-7:30PM EST
Providing professional development to your staff and strategies to help your colleagues
Teacher and district professional development is a critical part of school operations. This third series session will examine ways that school leaders are providing professional development in a virtual environment. Virtual experiences will change how professional development is delivered now and in the future.
Speakers: Dr. Baron Davis, Richland School District #2, Columbia, South Carolina | Dr. Randal Lutz, Baldwin-Whitehall School District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, OCT. 29, 2020 • 7-7:30PM EST
How curriculum is changing in schools and essential literacies we should be teaching students K-12
How will COVID-19 make school leaders rethink what are essential literacies that students will need to learn? In the fourth series session, presenters will address what their school districts are doing to rethink and reimagine curriculum K-12 for the future, and they will provide specific examples of what they are doing to prepare students for their future.
Speakers: Dr. David Miyashiro, Cajon Valley Union School District, El Cajon, California | Dr. Mary Catherine Reljac, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 2020 • 7-7:30PM EST
How learning will look in the future and how this experience will impact how schools educate students
This Transform for Tomorrow series will conclude with the fifth session that will focus on a futuristic look at what school leaders will need to analyze to prepare schools for the future of learning in a Post COVID-19 world. The school experience for students, teachers, families, and caregivers has changed, and the presenters will discuss how the changes will impact the future of learning and traditional schools as we know them.
Speakers: Kimberly Smith, Executive Director, Digital Promise: League of Innovative Schools | Dr. Susan Enfield, Highline Public Schools, Burien, Washington | Mr. Dennis Henderson, Manchester Academic Charter School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania